OREGON STATE SMACKS No. 1 USC IN THE MOUTH

IT WAS A first half clinic. A beat down. An eardrum-busting anthem of black and orange pride. Oregon State came out and punished the No. 1 team in the land, dominating the battle in the trenches on both lines. But the second half was a nerve-jangling roller coaster, with USC storming back and Beaver Nation was on pins and needles until the very end.

It was a glorious first half, and ended up as the defining game of the '08 college football season to date. After USC came out of the locker room in the second half firing on all cylinders, the Beavs did enough down the stretch to turn the tide and send the Trojans packing on the short end of a 27-21 thriller.

And when it was crunch time, it was the Beaver defense who claimed superiority over the much-celebrated USC offense, stuffing the Trojans twice on successive three and outs.

But that gut-check pair of stops was only a prelude.

Safety Greg Laybourn came up huge at the end, picking off a Mark Sanchez pass and returning it to the USC 2-yard line.

The game's early stars on Thursday night? Take your pick.

Offensive tackle Mike Remmers looked more like a seasoned veteran under consideration for first team All-Pac honors in the first half, rather a redshirt freshman walk-on.

Jacquizz Rodgers gained 113 yards -- in the first half -- against the nation's No. 2 rated defense -- and looked like an All-American candidate doing it, as opposed to a true freshman who was playing high school ball a year ago.

Sammie Stroughter, fighting a leg injury and sidelined virtually all of the second half, was clutch in the first 30 minutes, leaping high for dazzling, twisting grabs on key third down conversions. And when he wasn't making highlight reel catches, he passed the time decaffeinating a 230-pound Trojan safety with a wicked block.

And that only begins to scratch the surface of the game's first 30 minutes..

The Beaver defense, thanks to bruising play by Keaton Kristick, Victor Butler and Stephen Paea, forced USC into a three and out on the Trojan opening drive. And then the Rodgers' boys lit it up.

Quizz and James Rodgers starred on that first touchdown drive, the Beavs ripping off a 10.2 yards average on first down on their way to the end zone and a 7-0 lead.

The Beavs forced another three and out on the Trojans' second possession and USC players were clearly frustrated -- star running back Joe McKnight was seen complaining to the refs after being held to a smallish gain on third down.

The Beavs eventually doubled the advantage, going up 14-0 on a short Quizz run. And then just when it seemed like 'SC was gaining offensive momentum midway through the second period, the Beavs forced a turnover.

And when the officials blew a call, whistling Quizz' knee down (incorrect) and missing a facemask call that ripped Quizz' helmet off (egregious) with such force it was not only removed but launched skyward, lady luck came riding in on an orange and black steed.

A USC defender would have had to have made a sterling grab for an interception in the end zone, but it was a dangerous pass nonetheless. But it glanced off his outstretched fingers and an ever alert James Rodgers snagged it and opportunity with both hands, planting two feet down on the black paint for his second TD reception on the night.

The score was 21-0 Beavs -- at halftime -- against a USC team the talking heads in the media had already slotted, in red ink, as a BCS title game participant.

Not in our house, said the Beavs. Not on this night.

Oregon State held a 19:46 - 10:14 advantage in time of possession at the break. But it was the way the Beaver defensive line, so maligned early on this season, and the OSU offensive line, so young and untested in spots, smacked their USC counterparts in the mouth that so dropped jaws across the expanse of the college football world on Thursday night.

BUT USC CAME STORMING BACK to open the final half of football, stuffing the Beavs on defense and completing passes at will against an OSU defense that had suddenly lost their fine edge.

USC then cut it to 21-14 with 2:56 remaining in the third quarter. And with Stroughter now out with a leg injury, things were turning a darker shade of gray.

But Lyle Moevao put it square on the money to Shane Morales, who converted a third down, and Rodgers took the next carry for 10-yards plus -- and the Trojan tide was temporarily stemmed.

Neither offense could put together a scoring drive and the possessions went back and forth, with deciding momentum waiting to be claimed.

With 6:52 left in regulation, the Beaver D rose up and forced the Trojans into a three and out. And gut check time for the Beaver offense started with 5:40 remaining on the clock.

Back to back runs by Quizz moved the chains, netting 18 crucial yards and upping his total to 176 hashes on 34 touches. He finished with 186 yards on 37 carries. But USC battled back to force a punt and with 3:15 to play, the Torjans found themselves backed up on their own 2-yard line.

Enter Laybourn, who picked Sanchez off and weaved his way down to the Trojans' 2-yard line. And cue the victory dance, courtesy of Quizz' second touchdown run on the ensuing play. The Beavs missed the extra point and a late score with 1:19 remaining pulled USC to within six but the onside kick was grabbed by Taylor Kavanaugh, and a throng of Beaver fans were racing onto the field soon thereafter to join in a raucous celebration.

Chances are, they'll be dancing long into the night.